Winners Announced For The 2025 Shirley Jackson Awards

Mom read me "The Lottery." I'll never forget it.

The Shirley Jackson Awards winners were announced at the Readercon on July 12. The awards are presented for outstanding horror, dark fantastic and psychological suspense fiction.

 

The winner in each of the five categories are listed in a post at the Shirley Jackson Awards site. Also included in the post is a link to video on Youtube of the awards presentation.

 

To read the winners list or watch the presentation tootle over to Shirley Jackson Awards 

2025 Stoker Awards Winners - Horror Writers Association

Don't read these before bedtime.

Panzer's second stop today was at the Horror Writers Association (HWA) site.

 

The HWA has the winners and all the nominees in each of the 13 categories for the Stoker Awards listed there. Also included at the site is a link to the HWA Youtube channel episode of the Awards presentation.

 

Note: This is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on. 

To read the list tootle over to Stoker Awards

 

2026 Locus Award Winners

It's a huge list.

Today Panzer stopped in at the Locus Magazine Blog. If you're a science fiction, fantasy or horror fan you're probably familiar with Locus.

 

The Locus Science Fiction Foundation 2026 Locus Awards winners and the nominees in each of the 18 categories are listed at the site. The categories cover fiction, non-fiction, illustrators, editors, and publishers.

 

To read the post tootle over to Locus Awards Winners/ 

Free to Watch Classic Mystery Movie: The Old Dark House

Don't know who he is? Google him.

If you like spooky classic movies, Panzer found this one on the BlimeyTV/Restored Classic Movies channel on Youtube.

 

The Old Dark House is a 1932 black and white horror movie starring Boris Karloff. It's 1 hour 11 minutes long.

 

Make a pizza, grab your favorite beverage and enjoy the movie.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Classic Movie 

Free to Listen Classic Horror Audiobook: The Lost World

Thought you might like a change today.

If you like classic horror, Panzer found this one on the Gates of Imagination channel on Youtube.

 

The Lost World was written by Arthur Conan Doyle. It's read by Arthur Lane and 7 hours 45 minutes long.

 

This is a classic horror story with all the usual dinosaurs. Have fun.

 

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to Arthur Conan Doyle 

Free Classic Horror Audio: The Lawyer and the Ghost

Well, that wasn't what I expected.

If you like your short stories a little creepy, Panzer found this one on the Classic Audiobooks with Elliot channel on Youtube.

 

The Lawyer and the Ghost was written by Charles Dickens. It's 7 minutes long.

 

Make a cup of tea, find a comfortable place to sit and listen to this scary little piece of fiction (or is it?).

 

To listen to the audio tootle over to Horror Short Story

Free Classic Movie: The Mystery of the Mary Celeste

What cats do best.

This movie is a little different than our usual Saturday night mystery movie. Panzer found this mystery horror movie on the Cult Cinema Classics (CCC) channel on Youtube.

 

The Mystery of the Mary Celeste (The Phantom Ship) is a 1934 black and white movie. It's 1 hour 2 minutes long.

 

Grab your beverage of choice, make some popcorn and have fun.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to The Mystery of the Mary Celeste

8 New Agents Seeking Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Thrillers, Literary Fiction, YA, Memoir, Nonfiction, and More - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

They're new. They need writers. Apply now.

Today, Panzer made a quick stop at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. There he found a post about agents looking for clients.

 

Erica Verrillo's post includes 8 agents looking for writers to represent to publishers. The agents are looking for writers in a multitude of genres.

 

 Panzer says, "Be sure to read the agents interests before submitting to them. You don't want to waste their time or yours with an unwanted submission."

Note: This is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

To read the post tootle over to New Agents

8 New Agents Seeking SFF, Horror, YA, Romance, Mysteries, Literary Fiction, Nonfiction and more - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Look at all those genres they want.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took  Panzer to the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. There with hardly any digging in the post our intrepid kitty boy found one about new literary agents.

Erica Verrillo's list has eight agents looking for writers to represent in the U.S. and the U.K. Included with each agent's bio is a description of the genres they are interested in obtaining.

 

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the submission guidelines too."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for your snack while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to New Agents

Free Old Time Radio Horror Story: The Tell Tale Heart

I'll keep looking.

Halloween is just eleven days away and Panzer thought he'd get you into the spooky spirit. He found this short horror story on the Red Cave Books channel on YouTube.

 

The 1944 radio drama The Tell Tale Heart was written by Edgar Allan Poe. It's 27 minutes long.

 

Wrap up in a warm blanket because you'll get chills running up and down your spine listening to this scary story,

To listen to the episode tootle over to Old Time Radio Drama

Free Classic Sci fi Movie: Kronos

Don't be afraid, Mom. I'll protect you!

Panzer found this classic movie on the Creature Features channel on YouTube.

 

As the name Creature Features denotes the 1957 black and white movie Kronos has aliens as monsters in it. The movie is 1 hour 57 minutes long (including the extra intro and other stuff).

 

Grab your beverage of choice, make some popcorn and enjoy the movie.

 

To watch the movie tootle over to Kronos

Free Audio Horror Story: The Hair

Still looking for something else for you.

If you like your horror stories short, Panzer found this one on the Bitesized Audio Classics site.

The "whimsical" horror story The Hair was written by A.J. Alan. It's 22 minutes long.

Sit back and enjoy this short little horror story.

To listen to the audio tootle over to Whimsical Horror Story

A Grim Fate Befalls Horror Publisher DarkLit Press - Publishers Weekly

Finished reporting for the day.

On his way back from Writer Beware (R) Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. There he stumbled into a post about the mess at Canada's DarkLit Press.

 

In case you haven't read about DarkLit online yet, Nathalie op de Beeck's post gives an indepth look at what has led to the death of the publisher.

 

Panzer says, "It's an interesting story that makes no sense to this little kitty."

 

Note: This is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Horror Publisher DarkLit Press

Free Classic Horror Mystery Movie:Phantom Ship

Don't spill the popcorn during the scary parts.

Today Panzer found a thriller mystery movie on the FilmIsNow Horror Movies channel.

 

The Phantom Ship is a 1935 black and white horror mystery. It stars Bela Lugosi and is 1 hour 2 minutes long.

 

Make a big bowl of popcorn, sit back on the couch and enjoy this classic movie.

To watch the movie tootle over to Phantom Ship

 

 

Free Horror Audio: The Raven

Everybody knows the line "Nevermore."

Panzer thought, if you're a short audio horror fan, there's no better way to entertain you than with this horror poem he found on the RedFrost Motivation channel on YouTube..

The poem The Raven was written by Edgar Allan Poe and is narrated by Shane Morris. It's 11 minutes long.

Enjoy!

To listen to the audio tootle over to The Raven

Free Author Biography:Tragic Life of Edgar Allan Poe

A little change so you don't get bored..

Instead of a movie tonight Panzer thought you might like to watch the biography of Edgar Allan Poe.

 

While the Mystery Writers of America give the Edgar Awards for best mystery writing each year, Poe was also known for his horror writing. So, in preparation for the coming Halloween, here's Edgar Allen Poe's life story on the Biography Channel on YouTube.The video is 43 minutes long.

 

Get a cup of tea, sit back and watch the Tragic Life of Edgar Allan Poe.

To watch the video tootle over to Edgar Allan Poe

Free Audio Classic Ghost Story: The Judge's House

 

My work is finished for today.

For those of you who like short classic ghost stories Panzer found one on the Bitesized Audio Classics channel on YouTube.

The episode The Judge's House is written by Bram Stoker and narrated by Simon Stanhope. It's 55 minutes long.

Enjoy this scary story!

To listen to the episode tootle over to The Judge's House

Free Dark and Stormy Book Club Podcast: Harry Carpenter Fright Reads

If you like scary books, Panzer found a podcast for you.

 

Sounds interesting.

The Dark and Story Book Club Podcast features an episode with an interview with Harry Carpenter. He's the founder of the Fright Reads Book Festival  In the interview he talks about the authors, illustrators, artists, and celebrities who will be at the Book Festival this year. The Festival is September 30 - October 1. The notes below the episode include information about ticket purchases.

 

The episode is 24 minutes long including advertisements and the intro.

 

Enjoy!

To listen to the episode tootle over to Harry Carpenter

63 Calls for Submissions in February 2023 - Paying Markets - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about markets.

 

Hmm ... Mystery markets.

Erica Verrillo lists 63 paying markets all accepting submissions in February. There are markets for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art. The genres include mystery, horror, fantasy, and more. These are all paying markets that don't charge a reading fees.

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the submission guidelines."

Note:This is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to eat and drink while you explore all the possibilities.

 

To read the post tootle over to calls for submissions

16 Literary Magazines Open NOW - SFF, Horror, Essays, Poetry, Genre Fiction, and more - Paying Markets - Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity

Today Panzer stopped in at the Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity site. There our intrepid kitty traveler discovered a post about literary markets accepting submission now.

 

The title made it really easy for me.

The title of Erica Verrillo's post lists all the information you need to know about the publications' submissions opportunities.

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the guidelines before you submit."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a chocolate muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the included links, you'll need to decided what to bring to eat and drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to Literary Magazines